Translation guide
In Japanese, the concept of 'topic' is most commonly expressed with the particle は (wa), which marks what the sentence is about. Unlike English, Japanese often uses explicit topic markers, and the topic can be different from the grammatical subject. This guide covers how to introduce, shift, and manage topics in conversation and writing.
The speaker wants to indicate what they are talking about, often contrasting it with other possible topics or setting the scene.
The particle は (pronounced 'wa') marks the topic. It can replace が or を, or follow other particles like に or で. Use it to state a general fact, contrast, or introduce a new topic.
A casual spoken topic marker, similar to は but more conversational. Often used to bring up a topic or ask about something.
Used to pick up a topic that has already been mentioned or is implied, often to give information or make a suggestion specific to that topic.
日本語なら、彼が詳しいよ。
If it's Japanese, he knows a lot. (Speaking of Japanese, he's knowledgeable.)
The speaker wants to bring up a subject for the first time in a conversation or text.
A conjunction meaning 'by the way', used to change the topic to something unrelated.
ところで、明日の予定は？
By the way, what are your plans for tomorrow?
Used to signal a shift to a new topic or to get down to business. Common in speeches or when starting a new activity.
さて、次の議題に移りましょう。
Now, let's move on to the next topic.
Literally 'the story changes, but', used to politely change the subject.
話は変わりますが、来週の会議についてです。
Changing the subject, about next week's meeting...
Referring to the theme or subject being discussed, written about, or studied.
Means 'topic' in the sense of a subject of conversation or current interest. Often used in news or casual talk.
今日の話題は何ですか？
What's today's topic?
その話題は避けよう。
Let's avoid that topic.
Loanword from German 'Thema', used for a theme or subject of a paper, event, or artistic work. More formal than 話題.
A formal term for a subject or heading, often used in academic or religious contexts.
Understanding how Japanese sentences are built around a topic and a comment about that topic.
Japanese often uses a topic-comment structure: X は Y. The topic X is presented first, then Y provides information about it. This is fundamental to natural Japanese.
Once a topic is established, it's often dropped in subsequent sentences. This is a key difference from English, where subjects are usually required.
A: 明日何する？ B: （私は）映画を見る。
A: What are you doing tomorrow? B: (I'm) going to watch a movie.
は marks the topic (what we are talking about), while が marks the subject (the doer or the thing that is). In '象は鼻が長い', the topic is elephants, and the subject of 'long' is noses. Using が instead of は can sound like you are introducing new information or answering a question.
誰が来る？ 田中さんが来る。
Who is coming? Tanaka-san is coming. (が marks new info)
田中さんは来る？ はい、来る。
Is Tanaka-san coming? Yes, he is. (は marks topic)
English speakers often try to mark every subject with は, but this can sound unnatural. Use は only when you want to set a topic or contrast. In neutral descriptions or when introducing new information, が is often better.
Decide on the topic of the thesis.
研究の題目を提出する。
Submit the research topic.